Intrepid II Question

Hey everyone! New to the forums. Burning in a Vermont Castings Intrepid II, model 1990 in my small ranch style house in Warwick, NY and I LOVE it. Makes tons of heat for a little baby stove! Now for my questions:

First of all, this will be the third full winter running the stove. I check the catalyst usually twice throughout our heating season to check for fly ash and whatnot clogging the catalyst and refractory package passages. On my recent check, I noticed the metal band that holds the ceramic combustor together to be extremely warped. Enough that it's pushing the sides of the refractory package out. When I purchased the stove I was told I should be able to get between 5 and 8 cords out of a combustor and i'm somewhere in the range of 6 now (roughly 2 cords per season). I almost never run the stove on a high heat, my house is small (~1000 sqft). Normally, the air setting is never above low because it's such an efficient stove. I wouldn't imagine it being able to over fire with such a low air setting........First question is, How many cords roughly do people get out of a factory VC ceramic style combustor? Also, has anyone tried any aftermarket combustors (another brand ceramic, all metal, etc) and if so, what seems to be the best form, function and durability?

As a side note, my ceramic combustor itself is still in VERY GOOD SHAPE! one or two little honeycombs cracked off the end, but it is in otherwise great shape.....the metal is whats extremely distorted......


Thanks for any help!

Ok cool! I've seen the all metal ones but don't know anyone with experience with them. I stick with what works!

Thanks for the reply bud! This will be my first replacement! I've read about the sensor because if it's decomposed, it won't properly shut that air flap in the back and let the stove over fire.......really strange because that's still working fine!
I'm going to finish this season out and then do an overhaul on it through the warm months. Stoves getting needy for a few new gaskets too. I mean, for what it's worth, I could have just gotten a combustor with crappy band, wouldn't be the first time I've seen an oddball short lived metal product being that I weld! LoL.
I was very new to the catalytic stove idea when I got it so after this overhaul (gaskets, combustor, air probe, refractory package of needed) I'll be able to really pay attention to what goes in to the stove and its life span.

Glad to have gotten an answer on the metal combustor too, thank you! ......for what it's worth, I'll keep my money in the ceramic! They just seem safer!